Cambodians Delay Khmer Rouge Talks

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, January 6, 2003

The Cambodian delegation postponed for one day a second round of talks that had been scheduled for Tuesday with U.N. officials on a tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide.

Negotiators from both sides met Monday in a bid to restart talks that collapsed nearly a year ago after the United Nations cited a lack of commitment on Cambodia's part to ensuring a high standard of fairness in the tribunal.

The discussions were to continue Tuesday but were postponed at the request of the Cambodians, said U.N. legal counsel Hans Corell, who is representing the world body. The meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday.

Cambodian representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Khmer Rouge is blamed for some 1.7 million deaths of Cambodians from overwork, disease, starvation and execution during its 1975-79 rule. Although the movement is defunct now, many of its leaders still live in Cambodia and move freely in and out of the country.